Anthem Completes Acquisition of America’s 1st Choice

February 15, 2018 10:42 AM Eastern Standard Time

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anthem, Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) announced today the completion of its
acquisition of America’s 1st Choice, a privately‐held, for‐profit
Medicare Advantage organization that offers HMO products, including
Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNP) and Dual-Eligible Special Needs
Plans, under its Freedom Health and Optimum brands in Florida. The
company also operates America’s 1st Choice of South Carolina.

“America’s 1st Choice shares Anthem’s ambition to make a difference in
health care for Medicare Advantage consumers as well as for those who
have special health needs,” said Gail K. Boudreaux, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Anthem. “We know that these individuals want high
quality plans with support services to help them lead healthier, full
lives. America’s 1st Choice has become one of the leading Medicare
Advantage organizations in Florida by offering a well-regarded
provider-focused health care model that has resulted in strong growth
among Medicare Advantage and highly complex populations with special
needs. We look forward to working with our America’s 1st Choice
colleagues and are very proud that Anthem will now be the only publicly
traded company to offer five 5-star plans as part of its portfolio.”

Since its founding in 2008, America’s 1st Choice has generated
significant membership growth by developing effective engagement
programs and building strong provider relationships in the Florida
market. America’s 1st Choice currently serves approximately 130,000
Medicare consumers in 25 counties in Florida and three counties in South
Carolina. America’s 1stChoice will operate as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Anthem, and its associates will join Anthem’s Government
Business Division.

“We are excited to be joining Anthem because of the shared commitment to
making health care more accessible and affordable to those who need it
most,” said Rupesh Shah, CEO of America’s 1st Choice. “As part of
Anthem, we are positioned to help create the health care system of the
future.”

With the addition of America’s 1st Choice, Anthem’s affiliated Medicare
and Medicaid plans now serve more than 780,000 consumers in Florida.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the
transaction is expected to be slightly accretive to earnings in 2018.

About Anthem, Inc.

Anthem is working to transform health care with trusted and caring
solutions. Our health plan companies deliver quality products and
services that give their members access to the care they need. With over
73 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more
than 40 million within its family of health plans, Anthem is one of the
nation’s leading health benefits companies. For more information about
Anthem’s family of companies, please visit www.antheminc.com/companies

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